Should bird bath be near feeder
It can be an uphill task attracting birds to a new or well established bird bath, when feeders are used around the clock, but its simply a balancing act between them both.
Bird baths should be near feeders for birds to notice what could be a valuable yet safe water source nearby. Bird baths get used far less, but that is not to say you can't tempt birds to jump over to bathe or re-hydrate when its needed. Setup a bird bath with a 6 to 10 feet distance, well avoiding bird poop.
Bird feeders are all that's needed to attract birds to a yard, which is fulfilling enough for those wishing to observe birds in their yard.
You can go one better by not only feeding birds, but making sure they cannot only bathe to clean their feathers, but to re-hydrate in times of need.
Birds are not quite so willing to visit a bird bath as they are with feeders, so a little temptation may be needed.
Here is where setting up a bird bath near bird feeders is a great way to tempt birds to use it.
Easier said than done mind as birds can make a mess of bird bath if sat too near, or indeed underneath the feeders where bird poop drops.
Safe distance to avoid this issue would be 6-10 feet if you have the space, but observing the birds behavior around the bird bath can help you decide to move the bird bath to a new location if need be.
Much like your bird feeders, the bird bath must still be seen so must be out in the elements, close to natural vegetation if you can.
Bird bath near feeders vital
One way you can tempt wild birds to use a bird bath is making it visible as possible, so any birds arriving at your bird feeders will notice a bird bath nearby.
The mere presence of a bird bath near a bird feeder is no guarantee birds will decide to use the bird bath while they are there - but its certainly a sure fire way of seeing a number of birds perch on the bird bath.
Bird baths near a bird feeder is vital to attracting birds to bathe or re-hydrate, as numbers soon become more confident of visiting the bird bath nearby.
Whilst a bird bath may not be enough that is open to the elements, while sitting near to a single or group of bird feeders - running water in bird baths certainly can make any kind of bird bath noticeable.
Bird baths should be near bird feeders of any kind, and visibility seen wherever birds may approach the feeders in your yard.
Follow the same setup as bird feeders by keeping the bird bath out of direct sunshine for too long - while positioning it near natural coverage so birds feel safe if the need to escape or perch to feed becomes necessary.
Up to 6-10 ft. is safe distance
How far a bird bath is sat near a bird feeder, or indeed a number of bird feeders scattered around the yard, isn't an important factor at all.
Distance of bird bath to bird feeders relies more on hygiene than the effects of a too close to feeder bird bath.
As birds converge on bird feeders throughout the day, while spending some time perching on brackets or clinging onto feeders; you can imagine the amount of bird poop landing on the ground below them is going to be higher than normal.
Not everyone notices as it lands in the lawn and quickly washed away in the rain.
But herein lies the trouble with setting up a bird bath too close to a bird feeder; the birds will simply poop in the bird bath more than you could know.
Its vital then to position the bird bath well away from the bird feeders in use, while still making sure the bath is still within sight.
Aim for 6 to 10 feet if your backyard allows the spacing, but a shorter distance is achievable if you at least test new areas for the bird bath to remain with improved results.
Hidden bird bath risk
You see people tend to locate a bird feeding station or platform feeder in an area in the garden that is central to the lawn, or at least compliments the yard its positioned in.
Its therefore possible the addition of a bird bath would be given less thought, so placed in an area that not only remains hidden by visiting birds, but can be situated in a place prone to bird droppings.
Bird baths will need to be offset as the central position would normally be taken up by bird feeders of any kind - but that is not to say a complimentary spot in the yard can't be used.
Indeed, bird feeders hanging in a tree would benefits with a bird bath located opposite, but not in a way its hidden behind the tree trunk.
Similarly, a central location for hanging bird feeders on a bird feeding station, can use with a bit of landscaping to create to secondary spot, perfectly aligned with each other.
Bird baths must be visible to birds at all times, so its less necessary they are seen near to the bird feeders.
With that in mind, set the bird bath out in the elements, so its seen by you - and therefore must be visible to backyard birds.
Conclusion
It can be a struggle to get birds of any species to use a bird bath, so its vital you can tempt them to a bird bath by any means necessary.
One harmless way to do that is basically by setting up a bird bath near to a single but busy bird feeder, or indeed situate the bath near a group of feeders.
Distance you should be aiming for is anywhere between 6 to 10 feet, though its safe to say a shorter distance is within reason, and so too is a wider distance if your backyard landscape allows it.
What you are aiming for is to set up the bird bath close to busy bird feeders as possible, but not in a way the bird bath becomes a dumping ground for bird poop.
Its up to you to protect the bird bath water by keeping it clean as possible, but regularly replenished with fresh clean water to prevent it running out.
Locating a bird bath far away from bird bath won't go very well, as it would go a miss most of the time as wild birds concentrate on feeding for the whole day.
I would therefore always set a place in the yard especially for locating a beautiful but hopefully a practical bird bath with running water via solar panels if need be.
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